Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Swapped one hell for another': Michael Fatialofa's staggering $200k medical bill

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Worcester Warriors lock Michael Fatialofa is reportedly facing a $NZ200,000 medical bill after spending months in hospital to recover from a broken neck he sustained during a match early this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The ex-Hurricanes second rower suffered a C4 vertebrae fracture and spinal contusion during a Premiership clash against Saracens in January, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

After having spent four months in at the private Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, Fatialofa is now walking again, but according to a report from The Telegraph, the 27-year-old has been hit with invoices totalling to around £100,000 for his lengthy stay in medical care.

Video Spacer

Sam Smith reports | The return of Dan Carter

Video Spacer

Sam Smith reports | The return of Dan Carter

The hefty price tag has overshadowed his miraculous recovery that has inspired friends, family, fans and players from around the globe.

The report states that the first month of his time at Royal Bucks, which cost approximately £36,000, was paid for by Worcester through the Rugby Care insurance scheme.

At that point, Fatialofa was to be transferred to the Stoke Mandeville public hospital, but with no bed available at that facility, he spent the next three months in private care.

The Telegraph reports that the Warriors were told that the remaining medical fees would be covered by by the Clinical Commission Group, which allows National Health Service patients to receive private health care when no public health service is available.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Fatialofa has reportedly been sent bills equating to around £100,000 for his stay at Royal Bucks, with one source telling The Telegraph that the New Zealander “has swapped one hell for another”.

Compounding complications is that Fatialofa’s contract with Worcester expired on June 30, while his prearranged contract with a French club has since been cancelled due to his injury.

Furthermore, Fatialofa’s visa is set to expire soon, but he needs to remain in the United Kingdom to receive follow-up treatment from his surgeon before returning to New Zealand.

Funds amounting to over £40,000 ($NZ80,000) have been raised on a Just Giving Page by the Rugby Players’ Association’s Restart Charity, but sources told The Telegraph that Fatialofa is facing fees that are well beyond his financial means.

ADVERTISEMENT

In addition to the RPA’s fundraising, Fatialofa is reportedly receiving support from he Pacific Rugby Players’ Welfare group and the Worcester Warriors’ backroom staff.

Worcester co-owner Colin Goldring has voiced his backing of Fatialofa, saying the club will do what they can to prevent the 2016 Super Rugby champion from stumping up the six-figure payment.

“He won’t be out of pocket because he is one of our boys,” Goldring said. “We will protect him and look after him.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'There will be no honeymoon period for Borthwick's wedding usher El-Abd' 'There will be no honeymoon period for Borthwick's wedding usher El-Abd'
Search